Title: Unexpected Guests - 5 of 5
Author: Michelle with the help of Jadedragon
Email: mrsdrake@sff.net
Date: January 2004
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Buffy/Giles
Summary: Buffy and Giles are getting married, and some unexpected guests show up.
Feedback: I love it, want it, and need it.
Distribution: If you want it, take it. Just tell me where to find it.
Spoilers: This story takes place between seasons three and four, but uses some elements from season five. If you know about the Magic Box, you'll be okay.
Disclaimer: These are not my characters. They belong to Joss, Twentieth Century Fox, UPN, WB & Mutant Enemy. "And I Love Her" was written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. This is purely for fun.
Author's note 1: This is a sequel to Band Cookies, but it can be read as a stand alone. This starts a week after graduation day.
Author's note 2: Giles was put on probation after the events in Helpless, not fired. Wesley was brought in to be Faith's Watcher, not as a replacement for Giles. Wesley is supposed to report to the Council if Giles disobeys the Council again. Faith is not bad. I use these < > to denote thoughts.
Special thanks to Jadedragon for helping so much with the spells and magick scenes. Also, thanks go out to my betas, Jade and Mer.
"Are you all right? What happened?" Nicholas looked genuinely concerned for her.
Buffy groaned and stood up. He still held an arm around her. "You stopped pacing, and I thought something was wrong. You were standing so still. When you turned around it scared me. I'll be fine." She didn't know what had happened. There were a million questions running through her head. <What happened out there? Did they fail? Are they dead? Did Nicholas do something? >
"Stay here. I have to take care of something upstairs." He let go of her.
"No. Don't leave me alone. Something's going on. What happened earlier, with the magic stuff. I know someone was trying to hurt us. I can't defend against that. I don't want you to leave me." She hoped that he would believe her.
"I won't be gone long." He placed his hand on her shoulder to reassure her. "You'll be safe."
"I'm scared. Please don't leave me alone."
He took her hand in his. "Okay, but be quiet. I need to concentrate." He led her up the stairs.
She didn't know what he was going to do, but she had to be close to him. She had to wait for an opportunity. If something had happened to the others, she was on her own. She couldn't wait for someone to help her. She concentrated on watching Nicholas, waiting for an opening. When she had convinced herself that she would never get an opening, she felt the presence of the others return. She almost gasped when she felt Rupert. His presence was even stronger than before. She felt like he would protect her from anything. She felt invincible. She knew she wouldn't need Nicholas to give her an opening.
He was standing at the back window, staring out at the forest. "They're out there."
"I know." He spun around to face her. She smiled at the look of shock on his face. "Do you really think I'm stupid? I know there is no love spell. I know I have a bond with Rupert. Slayers and their watchers have a bond. You wanted that, but the only way to break the bond is if the watcher or slayer dies. You tried to kill him, but you didn't count on him fighting back. You didn't count on him bringing friends."
"I can stop them."
"You probably can, but can you stop them and still fight me? I'm betting you can't do both."
* * * * *
Again, as each preformed their parts of the complicated ritual, the power again grew. Finally, they were again at the point in the spell where Rupert walked to the table to perform his part. He concentrated on Buffy and breaking through the barrier as he took the large thistle head and placed it on the charcoal. As the fresh herb began to smolder, he picked up a small onyx and focused his will and wishes into the stone readying himself for the climax of the spell. Once he had poured his power into the onyx, he nodded to Willow, Edward and Wesley who joined him at the table, each holding the stones in their hands. Then as one, they dropped them into the censor. Once the stones touched the hot metal, they burst, releasing the power of each person and casting the spell.
A hot wind rushed from the circle toward the house, the barrier glowed first black, then turning red hot, then slowly glowing white, signifying that it was now broken.
"Quentin, you and your men go with Wesley and Willow. Help them find and rescue Buffy. My Father and I will take care of Nicholas." With that, they all walked toward the house.
As the group approached the house, Nicholas rushed out. He ignored them and headed straight for Rupert. "Ripper, it's been a long time."
"Not long enough, Nicholas."
"But it was such fun last time."
"Maybe for you. I was left to clean up your mess. I'll never understand how you could do those things."
"I thought it would make for a more interesting party. I thought Ripper would have enjoyed it."
"You crashed my party, used your spells on my guests for your amusement, and threw a tantrum when I put a stop to it. How could anyone enjoy that?"
"I know what kinds of parties you and Ethan used to have. You can't tell me that what I did was all that different."
"Ethan and I had the consent of all involved. You never cared about anything except your own pleasure. You never cared who you hurt in the process."
* * * * *
Wesley and Willow found Buffy lying on the floor close to the back door of the house. "Buffy, are you okay?" Willow asked.
"I'll be fine."
As they helped her to her feet, Quentin and his men entered the room. "Is she all right?" Quentin asked.
Wesley looked at him. "I think so." He looked at Buffy. "What happened?"
"I was trying to stall. I knew you guys were doing something out there. I felt it, felt the protection you gave me. I just kept Nicholas busy for a while, so you could bring down the barrier. He put up a good fight, but I handled it. When the barrier came down, he pushed me out of the way and ran out. I have to go after him. He's going to kill Rupert."
Wesley held her back. "It's too dangerous."
"But, I have to help him."
"He has help." Willow said.
"Help? Who's helping him?"
"His father is here. They are going to bind Nicholas' magick."
Buffy couldn't believe it. "His father?"
Quentin walked over to join them. "Miss Summers, we can discuss this later. You need to leave. We don't know what we're dealing with here. With all the magick and spell casting, anything could happen. You have to get to safety."
"Why would I go anywhere with you? This is all your fault!"
Willow stepped between them. "Not entirely. Buffy, it's a long story. Can we just go? Your mom is real worried. We can talk after we take you home." Buffy looked toward the back of the house. "Giles will be okay. They know how to handle Nicholas."
Reluctantly, Buffy let them lead her out of the house and into Wesley's car. Quentin and his men were staying to take Nicholas from Rupert and Edward after they bound his magick.
As the car pulled away from the house, a tear slipped from her eye. "I love you, Rupert," she whispered. "Please come home soon."
* * * * *
Edward watched as Rupert and Nicholas traded insults. He started preparing himself to cast the series of spells, which would end with Nicholas being bound and his magick held from him. Standing about twenty feet from the two sorcerers, Edward concentrated on the first of the spells that he and his son had put together to overcome Nicholas. He said a silent prayer as he started the first spell, silently casting it, feeling that Rupert was aware that he had started.
Rupert felt when his father cast the first of the spells to bind the rogue Watcher and then cast his own spell. He knew that Nicholas would repel the paralyzing curse, but he hoped that he wouldn't be aware of the hex contained within it that would combine with the spells that his father was casting.
Nicholas repelled the first volley from Rupert, laughing. "You think to catch me with such a simple spell? A first year Watcher could stop that one!" he taunted Rupert as he cast a death toll curse at his opponent.
Rupert quickly reversed the death toll curse and sent it back to Nicholas with the addition of the second spell in the series he had prepared to cast with his father.
Edward felt the second part of the spell being cast and added his part. He could sense the power, which was being generated and knew that with the next spell Nicholas would be able to tell that something was happening. He only hoped that they would be able to cast the fourth and final part before he realized what was happening.
Rupert easily cast Nicholas' second volley aside and cast the third part of the spell, hiding it in a silencing hex. He knew that Nicholas would break the hex, but he hoped that he would be able to cast the fourth part of the series before he broke it and realized that he was bound, unable to reach his magick. Immediately after he cast the silencing hex, Rupert cast the fourth before the hex had even reached Nicholas.
Nicholas felt the power building around him and recognized a silencing hex, which he quickly broke, but another spell hit him immediately as he broke the hex. He reached for his magick to cast a return spell and felt a barrier holding him from his magick
Edward watched as all the spells came together and bound Nicholas. He feared for his son if anything went wrong. He knew what Nicholas was capable of and prepared to defend his son if need be.
Nicholas couldn't cast. He looked in horror as he realized what Rupert had done to him. His magick was gone. He was enraged and ran toward the man who had stolen his Slayer and now had stolen his magick.
Rupert was ready and sidestepped the attack. This angered Nicholas even more. "Do you even remember how to fight without magick?" Rupert taunted him.
"I know enough to beat you." He rushed toward Rupert and missed.
"Really, you seem to be having a bit of trouble. Let me show you how it's done." Rupert lunged at Nicholas, grabbed his arm and twisted it around behind his back. Before Nicholas could register what happened, Rupert had his free arm securely around his neck.
Nicholas struggled to free himself. "What are you going to do now, Ripper? I know you won't kill me. You don't have it in you."
"You'd like it if I killed you. That would be the easy way out. What we're going to do is far worse. You'll wish we'd killed you."
"We? What are you talking about?"
Edward stepped out from his hiding place in the forest. "Hello, Nicholas."
Nicholas gritted his teeth as he spoke. "Edward. I should have known."
Rupert spoke to his father. "Do you have it?" Edward nodded.
Nicholas panicked, struggling harder to get away. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Rupert said. "You wouldn't want the needle to break off in your arm. Hold still and it will be over soon." Nicholas felt the cool cotton swab followed by the prick of the needle. "That wasn't difficult."
"You can't do this to me." Nicholas said before he went limp in Rupert's arms.
Quentin's men came and carried him away, while he talked to Edward and Rupert. "Thank you for your help. Both of you." He turned to Edward. "I trust you will come back with us to help with Nicholas."
"I will join you in a few days. I have a wedding to attend first."
* * * * *
"Edward, thank you again. Buffy might not be here if you hadn't helped."
"Joyce, you've thanked me enough." Edward looked over at Rupert. "Stop pacing. You're going to wear a hole in the floor."
Rupert stopped long enough to glare at him. "Is she ever going to be ready?" He looked at the door to the back room of the Magic Box.
Joyce smiled. "I'll go check on her."
* * * * *
Buffy was trying to sit still as Cordelia was applying her makeup. "Buffy, if you don't sit still, you're going to look like a clown."
Willow saw Joyce come in. "Cordelia's just finishing her makeup. Then we're ready."
"Good, I'll let them know. I'll be back." She left the girls and went out to tell Rupert.
* * * * *
Buffy heard the guitar music start when they opened the door. It was a classical piece that she never could remember the name of. She glanced at the main room of the Magic Box. She saw Xander, Oz, Edward, Wesley and the priest, but she couldn't see Rupert. <I know he's there somewhere, but where is he.>
As if reading her thoughts, Joyce whispered to her, "Don't worry. He's there."
Buffy and her mom watched as Anya, Cordelia and Willow took turns walking out into the main room. "This is it. Are you ready?"
Buffy gave her mom a quick hug. "As ready as I'll ever be."
Since her dad couldn't be there, her mom walked her out to the waiting groom. As they entered the room, the song changed, the small group of people moved aside to allow her to finally see the groom. Her breath caught in her throat when she realized he was playing the music on his guitar. When he began to sing to her, she felt the tears begin to fall.
I give her all my love
That's all I do
And if you saw my love
You'd love her too
I love her
She gives me everything
And tenderly
The kiss my lover brings
She brings to me
And I love her
A love like ours
Could never die
As long as I
Have you near me
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
Bright are the stars that shine
Dark is the sky
I know this love of mine
Will never die
And I love her
Rupert finished the song, put down his guitar, and joined her. The rest of the ceremony was a blur until she heard the minister say, "You may now kiss the bride." She reached up and put her arms around Rupert's neck as he leaned down and kissed her. They were breathless when they parted and turned to look at their family and friends.
"I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Rupert Giles."
The End
A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS (Sequel)